IT is the last day tomorrow, Saturday that members can fish Warrington Anglers' Association canal and stillwater fisheries as the self-imposed close season takes effect from Sunday.

You can continue to fish all Warrington's river venues for coarse fish until March 15 and then after that date for trout and salmon according to regional

Environment Agency bye-laws.

Mike Timson had a hectic few hours on Grey Mist Mere at the weekend when the

carp went into a feeding frenzy for his homemade secret recipe boilies. He netted four doubles in two hours!

John Robinson had the method well sorted for the tench population, which, also fooled by the warmer weather, were feeding with a vengeance.

Small cubes of some smelly old luncheon meat he found at the bottom of his net-bag and caster were the deadly baits which, presented on the pole at only six metres, ensured a steady catch rate. John finished his three hour session with 13 tench ranging from 1.5lbs to just under 5lbs.

The Bridgewater Canal at Preston Brook is solid with fish and producing pleasure catches of quality roach. I watched Alf Jarman fishing the pole and bread punch took a roach virtually every cast. The float more often than not did not have the time to settle.

I certainly hope that a new green belt canal-side housing development proposed for the old Neptune Club, which according to plans also includes a

high number of new moorings, does not get past the planners at Runcorn.

If passed willows which provide a nesting sanctuary for birds and also a fish

spawning area will be cut down and removed. Couple this with the increased

activity and disturbance and even more erosion of 'protected' greenbelt areas. Members should put their objections in writing to: The planning department, Halton Borough Council, Block B, Floor E, Grosvenor House, Halton Lea, Runcorn, WA7 2GW.

On the River Severn at Bicton sport has been slow with only odd chub being caught. However, member Ian Allison reports some good chub to 5lbs and a barbel of 8lbs 8ozs 0drms from the River Vyrnwy at Four Crosses. Ian believes in

natural baits and only fished lobworm on the hook, feeding chopped worm in a block-end feeder.

Ernie Hutchinson is running regular Wednesday matches on the River Mersey

until the end of the season. He won the first last week with an all roach

catch of 2-11-0. I still maintain that the regular introduction of anglers'

baits will encourage the fish to change their feeding habits away from the

enormous store of natural food in the river.

Appleton Reservoir is still fishing well and this past week's rod average was

2.67. Best bag 12 fish. The final qualifier match is to be held on Sunday,

draw 10am on the car park. Members must book in at Cheshire Angling and

complete their tickets before commencing to fish.

HQ Parker Street is open tonight, Friday, as usual 7pm to 9.30pm for new members or simply drop in for a chat. I can be contacted on 01928 716238 with your

queries or catch reports.

Frank Lythgoe

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.